Whatever their ideas maybe, Leeds City Council has made it very clear the owner will not have free reign to do what they want with the Grade-I listed building.

In a statement the authority warned any potential bidders that any plans must "preserve the important characteristics of the building".

That includes the massive weaving room, which was the largest single room in the entire world when the building was completed in 1836.

The Temple Works, Holbeck, once said to have the biggest room in the world

In the statement Leeds Council advises the building is not suitable for residential use but more excitingly suggests roof access is an option.

The council said: "The nature of the space within the building is likely to be more readily adaptable for leisure, creative, office and employment uses which require large open floor plates.

"The building offers great opportunities for creative use of the spaces within and around it subject to detailed assessment regarding its condition. There could be the potential for sensitive physical interventions to take advantage of the space afforded by the building and facilitate greater public access for example by incorporating internal routes through the building, greater use of the offices, potential new entrances into the building and exemplar new build elements which could facilitate access to the roof.”

Demolition is not going to be an option for whoever buys the building as the council warns it would 'strongly resist any application to demolish the building.

After years of the building falling into disrepair, Leeds City Council have said it could use its legal enforcement powers to hurry along restoration work and ensure the building doesn't deteriorate further.

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Leeds Civic Trust Director Martin Hamilton has previously described the building as one of the most historically significant in Leeds and said he thinks it would cost any bidder more than £20m to refurbish.

He said: “The statement put out by Leeds City Council may be bland, but the message to would be purchasers is clear: Don’t even consider bidding for the property unless you have deep pockets and are prepared to do things by the book.

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“In addition to any purchase price, experts think that around £2 million would need to be spent quickly to stabilise the buildings, and upwards of £20 million for its refurbishment.

“Significantly, the Council states that it has not used its enforcement powers yet, but reserves the right to do so. This looks like an indication that the council recognises the poor state of repair of the buildings and plans to move quickly post purchase to ensure that urgent works are carried out.”